Book excerpt:
Witchcraft & Black Magic
by Montague Sommers
(Grand River Books; 1971)

p. 108

One of the most famous of all Egyptian Magicians was King Nectanebus, the last native monarch, whose skill in Astrology, in Divination of all kinds, in prophecy, in brewing philters of love and hate, in concocting charms and casting the runes, was reputed to be unsurpassed in the ancient world. He ruled about 358 B.C.

Tradition has it that when Egypt was threatened with invasion he sent out no soldier to repel the foe, but retiring to a certain secret chamber or sanctuary, he filled with Nile water a great bowl which was placed there. He then fashioned with wood and wax mimic figurines of the ships and men of the enemy and also of his own fleet and sailors. These he set afloat in the water, his host on the one side, the enemy on the other. Next he donned his mystic mantle and took his ebony wand. Intoning the words of power, he summoned with many a sign and sigil the elemental forces to his aid. The wax poppets sprang into life; the galleons moved to and fro and fought a mimic battle in the water. The figures of his own men vanquished their opponents, whose little navy and crews plunged floundering to the bottom of the bowl. In the same instant of time were the real armadas of the invading hosts wrecked and scattered, and sank to the bed of the ocean.

It chanced one day that the news was brought to Nectanebus that all the nations of the East had leagued against him, and were mustering a multitude great as the sands of the sea upon his frontiers. With a scornful jest and mocking laughter, in no great haste he repaired to his privy chapel, poured the water in the bowl, and proceeded with the charm, chanting his ritual invocations. To his dismay, as he watched the wizard Fantoccini, he saw that his own ships and men were being destroyed and all dropped down to the depths. By this he understood that the end of the kingdom of Egypt had come, and leaving the chamber with all speed, he shaved off his beard and close clipped his hair. Taking with him an immense sum of gold and jewels, and put on on mean attire, he fled, crossing by ship…"

Comment: I thought this was quite interesting. If the legend is indeed true, then Nectanebus, was one of the most powerful practitioners of the ancient times. Yet he saw a rival practitioner, Fontoccini, in his visions working against his Sorceries and thus realized his time was nigh at hand.

I'm amazed that Nectanebus just didn't attack Fantoccini but of course the passage reads that all of the East was against Egypt so perhaps there were other practitioners out there working against Nectanebus as well?

Interesting story nonetheless!

All the Best,

MOLOCH

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